CORDEX GCM-RCM simulations overview

Now an excel file with information on simulations in all CORDEX domains is available.

The file is an overview of model simulations in the domains and does not include all details.

Since new simulations are performed continuously the most recent information on simulations/model runs with more details will be available via links or contacts referred to at the domain tabs in the excel document.

There have been significant efforts for a few decades on regional downscaling to aim for producing regional and/or local climate projection as well as expanding scientific understanding on climate processes. In this context, a recent WCRP major project, Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) provides a common framework that consists of 14 continental-scale domains, in which four initiatives belongs to Australasia: CORDEX-South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This region needs to be considered with caution and in- depth, both in geographical and climatological perspectives, because it covers very unique and complex climatological phenomena. These include: the most complex orography with the highest plateau in the world; the strongest monsoon areas including Indian, East Asian, Northwest Pacific, and Australian monsoons; the strongest convection in the tropical maritime continents; the strongest tropical cyclones activities; and even both the northern and southern Hemisphere. Despite of the successful achievements made by CORDEX-Asia communities, we still need many issues to be addressed such as coupling ocean-atmosphere, climate-vegetation, climate-aerosols, and other climate processes. In addition, statistical/empirical regional climate downscaling approaches have received increasing attention by stakeholders in the regions. Hence, this session invites scientists within and outside the CORDEX initiatives to share their scientific findings on various issues related to dynamical and statistical/empirical regional climate downscaling methods. This session covers following themes: 1) Evaluation of regional downscaling techniques (dynamical and statistical methods), 2) Development of coupled regional climate model, 3) Added-values in regional climate downscaling by comparison with high-quality observation datasets, 4) Process-based studies on sensitivity to the large-scale forcing, regional forcing, domain size, resolution, physics, and etc., 5) Regional climate projection and understanding on climate sensitivity, and finally 6) Other issues relevant to regional climate downscaling including application to application sectors.

Convenors: Hyun-Suk Kang (KMA, Korea),

Satyaban Bishoyl Ratna (JAMSTEC, Japan),

Fredolin Tangang (National University of Malaysia, Malaysia),

Xianxiang Li (Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore)

CORDEX African Impact Atlas

Researchers in the CORDEX-Africa project have started an initiative to co-develop knowledge on climate change impacts in Africa. Co-ordinated at the University of Cape Town with support from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and the Climate Service Centre in Germany, the plan is to develop a climate atlas showing the regional effects of various climate scenarios as a support for important functions in society.

The atlas would present a systematic regional analysis on the effects of 1.5, 2 and 4 degrees of global warming based on local needs in order to provide support for the many communities that do not currently have any detailed information about climate developments. A plan for the atlas was presented at the Earth Info Day at COP 22 in Marrakech in early November and project launch could be as early as 2017, if funding can be secured. For more information see the SMHI News item.